A Moscow cinema has shown a satirical film about Soviet leader Josef Stalin despite an official ban
(26 Jan 2018) A Moscow cinema has shown a satirical film about Soviet leader Josef Stalin despite an official ban.
The Culture Ministry rescinded the permit for screening Scottish writer-director Armando Iannucci's 'The Death of Stalin' just two days before its scheduled premiere.
The decision followed criticism from communists and others that the British-French production made a mockery of Russian history.
Pioner Theatre showed the film on Thursday (25JAN2018) as planned, defying the ministry's move.
Cinema-goers who watched the film gave mixed reviews.
Dina Alexandrovna, who attended Stalin's funeral in 1953 and was a staunch supporter of the Soviet dictator as a child, said that the film's content did not offend her and that she disagreed with the government's decision to ban the film.
Another woman, who withheld her name, described the film as "terrifying… absolutely, not funny", saying that it showed the realities of the time.
The ministry warned the theatre will face sanctions in line with the law.
Screening the film without a licence is punishable by a fine of up to 100,000 Ruble (USD 1,800) and could lead to the theatre's closure in case of a second violation.
Stalin remains widely admired in Russia despite his brutal purges that killed millions.
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